Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Working Hours: EU Law

Lord Hannan of Kingsclere: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of the cost of applying the EU’s Working Time Directive (2003/88/EC).

Lord Callanan: In 2014, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills conducted a review of the impact on the UK labour market of the UK Working Time Regulations. These Working Time Regulations implemented the EU Working Time Directive into UK law. The report is attached, but can also be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-time-regulations-impact-on-uk-labour-marketEU Working Time Directive (pdf, 2212.8KB)

Department of Health and Social Care

Test and Trace Support Payment

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that all those eligible for a Test and Trace support payment receive such support.

Lord Bethell: Since the launch of the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme, the Government has taken a range of action to help ensure those eligible for the scheme receive the support that it provides. This includes providing more than £70 million of funding to local authorities to meet the costs of the scheme, with a further £39 million released at the end of February 2021; expanding the eligibility criteria to include individuals notified to self-isolate by the NHS COVID-19 app because they are a contact of someone who has tested positive; and increasing the window in which individuals can make a claim, by allowing applicants up to 28 days after their first day of self-isolation. The Test and Trace Support Payment scheme will continue into the summer and will be expanded to cover parents who are unable to work because they are caring for a child who is self-isolating. The Government keeps all elements of its COVID-19 response under review, including the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Liverpool City Council

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what rolethey envisage for the commissioners overseeing elements ofthe (1) planning, (2) highways, and (3) regeneration departments of Liverpool City Council; what is their (a) purpose, and (b) objectives; and how longtheyexpect the commissioners will be involved in the running of these departments ofLiverpool City Council.

Lord Greenhalgh: The proposed intervention package for Liverpool City Council presented by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to Parliament on Wednesday 24 March includes the appointment of Commissioners for a minimum of three years and the transfer of all executive functions associated with regeneration, highways and property management at the Council to those Commissioners. The Secretary of State will take a final decision, following consideration of any representation received from the Council, after 24 May The Secretary of State has expressed the hope that it will not be necessary for the Commissioners to exercise these powers, but instead that their main role would centre on supporting the Council itself in making changes. It is proposed that most decisions continue to be made by the Authority and the intention is that these powers should only be used as a last resort, should the Authority not satisfy the Commissioners in their improvement processes.

Liverpool City Council: Standards

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government to provide details of (1) the "pervasive and rotten culture", and (2) the "culture of intimidation", within Liverpool City Council, described by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government in a statement on 24 March.

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government to provide details of what the report of the findings of the Best Value inspection into Liverpool City Council, published on 24 March, identified as a "secret cabal" operating within Liverpool City Council; what assessment they have made of which documents, if any, have been destroyed in any of the Council’s departments; and to provide details ofthe "serious breakdown of governance at the council" described by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on 24 March.

Lord Greenhalgh: The Government fully accepts the findings of the independent Best Value Inspection Report subject to any representations Liverpool City Council may wish to make about the report. The report, produced by Max Caller CBE, is based on the documentation and personal testimony provided by councillors, officers, and members of the public to the independent inspectors. The full report can be viewed (attached) at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/liverpool-city-council-best-value-inspection-report   Liverpool best value inspection report (pdf, 799.9KB)

Liverpool City Council: Criminal Investigation

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether tax payers in Liverpool will fund the cost of (1) the investigation led by Max Caller into activities at Liverpool City Council, and (2) commissioners for the investigation; how much the investigation is expected to cost; and how much money is alleged to have been overspent as a result of an alleged lack of oversight by that Council.

Lord Greenhalgh: Liverpool City Council funded the cost of the Best Value Inspection, in line with the requirements of the Local Government Act 1999. In the past, where Commissioners have been appointed under Best Value powers, the relevant Directions required the local authority to meet all reasonable fees and expenses associated with the Commissioners. This expectation is set out in section 5.6.2 of the Statutory intervention and inspection: a guide for local authorities (May 2020). The Secretary of State will take a final decision, following consideration of any representation received from the Council, after 24 May.

Regional Planning and Development: Ministerial Responsibility

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government whichCabinet ministeris responsiblefor the levelling up agenda.

Lord Greenhalgh: Levelling up all areas of the country remains at the centre of the Government’s agenda and this requires collective action across Government as a whole. We remain committed to levelling up opportunity across the UK so that people feel that they can succeed in their local area. The Spending Review established a set of provisional priority outcomes and metrics across all Departments and policy areas which have been published (attached) here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spending-review-2020-documents.  Spending review (pdf, 3865.6KB)

Levelling Up Fund: Northern Ireland

Lord Browne of Belmont: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have tosupportinfrastructure projects in Northern Irelandthrough the Levelling Up Fund.

Lord Greenhalgh: The £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund will invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK, including regenerating town centres and high streets, upgrading local transport, and investing in cultural and heritage assets.The Fund will operate UK-wide, extending the benefits of funding for priority local infrastructure across all regions and nations.In Northern Ireland, the UK Government will accept bids at the most local level, from a range of local applicants, including but not limited to businesses, voluntary and community sector organisations, district councils, the Northern Ireland Executive and other public sector bodies.

Unitary Councils: Devon

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to establish a unitary local authority in Devon.

Lord Greenhalgh: The Government is clear that any reform of an area’s local government is most effectively achieved through locally-led proposals put forward by those who best know the area, the very essence of localism to which the Government remains committed. The Government will not impose top-down Government solutions for restructuring and will continue to follow a locally-led approach for unitarisation.

Ministry of Justice

Prisons: Violence

Lord Browne of Belmont: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps theyare taking to addressthe level of violence in prisons.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: Despite the progress made, the level of violence in prisons remains too high. We are continuing work to address this by giving all staff the tools and training needed to help them reduce violence.We are spending £100 million across the estate to bolster prison security, clamping down on the weapons, drugs and mobile phones that fuel violence and crime behind bars.We have developed the Challenge, Support and Intervention Plan (CSIP), which is the national case management model for managing those who pose a raised risk of being violent and is being used in all prisons.We are rolling out PAVA, a synthetic pepper spray, in the adult male estate to protect staff and prisoners from incidents where there is serious violence, or an imminent or perceived risk of serious violence. Alongside this will be the introduction of a new Personal Safety package; (S.P.E.A.R.) to ensure that PAVA is introduced as part of a wider package of skills for staff to resolve and deescalate incidents.We continue to support the effective use of the 6,000 Body Worn Video Cameras across the estate, whilst continuing to embed the training provided to staff to promote rehabilitative conversations. This provides staff with skills and equipment to deal with challenging situations in a fair and just way. The cameras will also provide high-quality evidence to support prosecutions.Any prisoner who commits an act of violence should expect to have action taken against them, including an adjudication, which could downgrade their incentives and earned privileges level, or further time added to their sentence.

Prisoners

Lord Bradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people are currently in prison serving a determinate sentence of 20 years or more; and of these how many (1) have never been released, or (2) have been recalled.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: The total number of people currently in custody serving a determinate sentence of 20 years or more who have never been released is 1,276. There are a further 27 people in custody serving a determinate sentence of 20 years or more, having been recalled from the community. These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The power to recall is a vital public protection measure and all individuals on licensed supervision in the community are liable to recall to prison if they fail to comply with the conditions of their licence in such a way as to indicate that their risk has escalated to the point where they may no longer be safely managed in the community.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Nuclear Weapons

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remark by Baroness Goldie on 23 March (HL Deb, col 808) that "We are satisfied that we are compliant with the non-proliferation treaty", what assessment they have made of the statement on 17 March by aUNspokespersonthat the decision of the Government to increase their nuclear weapons arsenal is "contrary to its obligations to Article Six of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons".

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: Maintaining and renewing elements of the UK's nuclear deterrent capability is fully consistent with our international legal obligations, including those under Article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The UK remains committed to the step-by-step approach to nuclear disarmament under the framework of the NPT, and the long-term goal of a world without nuclear weapons.

Myanmar: Religious Freedom

The Lord Bishop of Winchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of (1) the contribution made to aiding reconciliation by, and (2) the vulnerability of, religious groups in Myanmar.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK is very concerned by divisive, racist and nationalist propaganda perpetuated by the military regime since the coup. Our Embassy is meeting with a range of stakeholders, including Buddhist, Christian and Muslim leaders who are bravely standing up against the military junta. The UK also works with partners and other community leaders to improve religious tolerance and social cohesion through facilitating a greater understanding of religious and cultural differences, and promoting dialogue between different communities across Myanmar. We continue to raise our concern, including at the UN Human Rights Council, at the Race and Religion Laws and the 1982 Citizenship Law which have been used to discriminate against non-Buddhists.

Yemen: Humanitarian Aid

Lord Judd: To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are providing to (1) peace builders, (2) women’s rights organisations, and (3) human rights organisations, working in Yemen.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK fully supports the important role women can play in ending the conflict in Yemen. We are a global leader on the Women Peace and Security (WPS) agenda and the penholder on UNSCR 1325. Yemen is a priority country for our National Action Plan on WPS. We have supported the Yemeni Women's Pact for Peace and Security (through UN Women), which aimed to increase female leadership and inclusion in the peace processes. The UK has also funded projects aimed at supporting the work of grassroots women leaders and civil society organisations in communities across Yemen. UK funding of two advisors in the UN Special Envoy's office has also supported the UN in consulting marginalised groups. Furthermore, on 25 February the Security Council adopted a UK-drafted resolution which sanctioned Houthi official Sultan Zabin for the use of sexual violence as a tool of war, the first such sanction in the Middle East. We will continue to support Yemeni women, youth and civil society to help create the conditions for an inclusive and durable peace in Yemen.

Nigeria: Fulani

Baroness Cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the types of weapons used by Fulani herdsmen involved in fighting in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, and (2) from which countries these weapons originate.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK Government condemns all incidents of intercommunal violence. These have had a devastating impact on both Christian and Muslim communities across multiple states in Nigeria. The UK Government urges all communities to work together to address problems peacefully and to avoid division. We have made clear to the Nigerian authorities at the highest levels the importance of protecting civilians, including ethnic and religious minorities, and human rights for all. The Minister for Africa and the Deputy National Security Adviser have raised the issue of intercommunal violence with President Buhari's Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari, most recently in December 2020. The Minister for Africa publicly welcomed President Buhari's commitment to protect all religious and ethnic groups in the country in February this year, and reiterated the importance of communities working together. The FCDO monitors incidents of intercommunal violence very closely, both from the UK and through the British High Commission in Nigeria. Although we do not hold figures on the numbers killed during incidents of intercommunal violence, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project estimates there have been just over 6,000 fatalities from all conflict and political violence across Nigeria's Middle Belt, plus Kaduna and Taraba, over the last five years. These fatalities span all religious groups and ethnic backgrounds. Perpetrators of violence in the Middle Belt have used a range of weapons, including staves, knives and guns in attacks.

Diplomatic Service

Lord Dubs: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the level of diplomatic protection accorded to the EU Ambassador to the UK; and what plans they have, if any, to grant them full diplomatic status.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: We continue to engage with the EU on the long-term arrangements for the EU Delegation to the UK, and it would not be right to pre-empt the outcome of those discussions. Pending the conclusion of an Establishment Agreement, the Head of the EU Delegation and their staff enjoy privileges and immunities under Protocol 7 to the EU Treaties.

Nigeria: Fulani

Baroness Cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of people killed by Fulani herdsmen during fighting in Nigeria’s Middle Belt in each of the previous five years.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK Government condemns all incidents of intercommunal violence. These have had a devastating impact on both Christian and Muslim communities across multiple states in Nigeria. The UK Government urges all communities to work together to address problems peacefully and to avoid division. We have made clear to the Nigerian authorities at the highest levels the importance of protecting civilians, including ethnic and religious minorities, and human rights for all. The Minister for Africa and the Deputy National Security Adviser have raised the issue of intercommunal violence with President Buhari's Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari, most recently in December 2020. The Minister for Africa publicly welcomed President Buhari's commitment to protect all religious and ethnic groups in the country in February this year, and reiterated the importance of communities working together. The FCDO monitors incidents of intercommunal violence very closely, both from the UK and through the British High Commission in Nigeria. Although we do not hold figures on the numbers killed during incidents of intercommunal violence, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project estimates there have been just over 6,000 fatalities from all conflict and political violence across Nigeria's Middle Belt, plus Kaduna and Taraba, over the last five years. These fatalities span all religious groups and ethnic backgrounds. Perpetrators of violence in the Middle Belt have used a range of weapons, including staves, knives and guns in attacks.

Armenia: Genocide

Baroness Cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will formally observe Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day on 24 April.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The events of 1915-1916 were a tragic episode in the history of the Armenian people and they must never be forgotten. The UK Government of the day condemned the massacres and this Government fully endorses that view. The policy of the UK Government is that any judgement on whether genocide has occurred is a matter for competent courts, rather than for governments. Although we will not formally be observing the 'Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day' our thoughts will be with the Armenian people

Syria: Sanctions

Baroness Cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 12 March (HL13797), whether the principle of ‘do no harm’ also applies to economic sanctions on Syria; and what assessment they have made of the statement by the UN Office of the High Commissioner on 7 August 2020 that sanctions “are bringing suffering and death" in countries like Syria.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK remains committed to supporting a political settlement to the conflict in Syria in line with UNSCR 2254. Sanctions remain a key lever to press the regime to engage seriously with the political process. We remain committed to the principle of 'do no harm' with sanctions in Syria and seek to minimise the impact of sanctions on ordinary Syrians. We carefully target specific individuals and entities who are part of a new wave of emerging elites that have profited from the conflict. We do not sanction medicine, medical equipment and medical assistance. Items required to fight the COVID-19 pandemic are not subject to direct restrictions on export, supply, financing or use in Syria. The Assad regime and its backers blame 'Western' sanctions for the failing economy in Syria. In reality, the regime has devastated its own economy through cronyism, corruption and brutality and must be held to account. The UK remains at the forefront of the humanitarian response to the crisis in Syria and the region, and will continue to be so. We have now committed £3.7 billion to the Syria Crisis since 2012, our largest ever response to a single humanitarian crisis

Myanmar: Politics and Government

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of (1) Australia, and (2) the United States, about the situation in Myanmar; andwhat plans they have to replicate the special measures introduced by those countries for Myanmar citizens unable to return to their country safely.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK is leading a strong and coordinated international response to the coup. We continue to engage closely with partners on a range of issues. We welcome the US announcement on Temporary Protected Status for Myanmar nationals in the country. Australia has not yet introduced special measures for Myanmar Nationals. We are continuing to explore the options for supporting Myanmar Nationals in the UK who could be in danger if they return. The majority of Myanmar nationals present within the UK have already utilised the switching provisions within our immigration system to continue their regularised stay.

Cabinet Office

Veterans: Mental Health Services

Lord Hay of Ballyore: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of mental health support services provided for armed forces veterans.

Lord True: All of NHS England’s commissioned services for veterans are evidence based, having been developed and delivered from intensive engagement with experts, members of the armed forces community and service charities. NHS England and NHS Improvement assesses need based on a variety of published data, research output and consultation and engagement exercises. As a result of these assessments, the Government and NHS England recently announced Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service, which will ensure veterans know where to go for help. Op COURAGE combines three bespoke veterans’ mental health services to provide a complete mental health care pathway for veterans, with individuals benefiting from personalised care plans, ensuring they can access support and treatment both in and out of hours. For veteran specific mental health services, in 2020-2021 NHS England provided £16.5m, which will be increased to £17.8m for 2021-2022. Service charities are supported by the Government through the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, which benefits from £10m annually, and in both years an additional £10m has been allocated to support veterans’ mental health needs. During 2020, the COVID-19 Impact Fund has provided nearly £6m in grants to over 100 Armed Forces charities across the United Kingdom. Of the charities awarded funding, 68% of grants sampled supported members of the Armed Forces and veterans’ community for mental health and crisis support, and 77% for easing isolation and loneliness.

Department for Education

Pupils: Coronavirus

Lord Porter of Spalding: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to periodically review the£700 million education recovery package for children and young people, announced on 24 February, to ensure that those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds are being supported.

Baroness Berridge: Understanding the impact of lost education on attainment and progress is a key research priority for the government, and an independent research and assessment agency has been commissioned to monitor progress over the course of the year and help us target support.The department knows that the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak has been felt most heavily by disadvantaged children and young people, and so it is vital that we target support towards these pupils.In February 2021, the department appointed Sir Kevan Collins as Education Recovery Commissioner to advise how to help pupils make up their education over the course of this Parliament. As an immediate step, we have invested a further £700 million to support education recovery measures (bringing total investment in catch up to over £1.7 billion).The package contains a new one-off £302 million Recovery Premium (which includes £22 million to scale up evidenced approaches) for state primary and secondary schools in the 2021/22 academic year. Building on the pupil premium, the Recovery Premium will help schools to deliver evidence-based approaches for supporting the most disadvantaged pupils.£200 million will be used to expand our successful tutoring programmes. The National Tutoring Programme was first announced in June 2020 and has increased access to high-quality tuition for the most disadvantaged young people, helping to accelerate their academic progress and tackling the attainment gap between them and their peers. This investment will fund an £83 million expansion of the National Tutoring Programme for 5–16-year-olds in 2021/22, in order to reach hundreds of thousands more pupils next academic year; a £102 million extension of the 16-19 Tuition Fund for a further year to support more students in English, maths and other vocational and academic subjects; and £18 million funding to support language development in the early years, supporting a critical stage of child development.

Women and Equalities

LGBT People: Human Rights

Lord Black of Brentwood: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the report by the United Nations Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identityReport on Conversion Therapy, published in February 2020, what assessment they have made of its findings; and what plans they have this year to take forward the recommendation to ban conversion therapy.

Lord Black of Brentwood: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the report by The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association Curbing deception: a world survey of legal restriction of so-called "conversion therapies", published in 2020, what assessment they have made of its findings, especially its strategies to restrict conversion therapy practices.

Lord Black of Brentwood: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to include bans on attempts to change someone's gender identity with any ban on conversion therapy practices.

Lord Black of Brentwood: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their research on conversion therapy practices in the UK has included consultation with (1) religious organisations opposed to a ban, and (2) survivor groups and victims.

Baroness Berridge: The Government will ban conversion therapy. The ban will cover both sexual orientation and gender identity. How we ban these practices is a complex issue that we must get right. Officials continue to consult a range of organisations with diverse views. As well as this consultation, officials continue to assess the most up-to-date evidence, including that of the UN’s Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association. We have also undertaken research to understand practices, experiences and impacts associated with conversion therapy and will publish this in due course. The Government is working at pace on this issue and will outline its plans shortly.